Well, one thing’s for sure: If Ted Cruz fails to become the president of the United States, it won’t be because he refused to release his birth certificate.

On Sunday, three years before the next GOP convention and less than a year into his Senate term, Cruz took the rather extraordinary step of providing a copy of his birth certificate to the Dallas Morning News.

The certificate, documenting his birth in Calgary, Alberta, Canada in December 1970, is consistent with what has already been reported regarding Cruz’ birth. His mother was a U.S. citizen when he was born, which means he was by definition a citizen of both countries at birth.

Many constitutional scholars have opined that the provision that a president must be a “natural born citizen” would include birth to a U.S. citizen outside the country’s borders. John McCain, for example, was born in the Panama Canal Zone–one difference being that the canal zone was a U.S. possession.

President Obama’s birth in Hawaii has been hotly disputed by “birthers”– mostly Tea Party types–who do not believe the Hawaiian birth certificate he released is valid. A similar cadre of protesters on the other side of the political spectrum may well dispute Cruz’ eligibility for the nation’s top office.

Some constitutional scholars believe that the only thing that could keep Cruz from being eligible would be for him to retain his Canadian citizenship. They say would probably have to end his dual citizenship, renouncing the Canadian citizenship, in order to be qualified.